Slug-casting apparatus



Oct. 3, 1939.

F. L. ARNOLD SLUG-QASTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1957 Gd. 3, 1939. F, ARNOLD 2,174,714

SLUG-CASTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4, 1957 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 3, 1939 UNITE SLUG- CASTING APPARATUS Ferd L. Arnold, Morgantown, W. Va., assignor' to West Virginia Newspaper Publishing Company, Morgantown, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Application December 4, 1937, Serial No. 178,171

8 Claims.

This invention relates to slug casting machines and particularly to slug casting apparatus of the type now in widespread use for the formation of printing slugs. Line casting machines for the quick and convenient formation of elongated slugs having lettering thereon, and intended for subsequent use in printing operations, are well known and it may be said that it has been an objective of the designers of castingmachines of this type to provide mechanisms of such character that slugs having different type sizes may be cast by making simple changes in the molds actually employed. It is highly advantageous that any line casting machine be constructed so as to have the capacity for this, as it is of course necessary for the printer to make use of slugs having letters of different sizes.

In a well-known type of line casting machine the molds comprise units which are formed separately from and may be attached to or removed from the body of the machine without great difficulty. By changing the slug casting molds, slugs of different type size may be produoed, varying for instance from the 12 point size to the 60 point size. It" has herefore been common practice, however, in order to cast slugs the letter sizes of which vary so widely, to make use of a series of molds, in the most common case six molds being necessary to enable the operator to obtain slugs having letter sizes including the 12 point, the 60 point, and intermediate sizes. Inasmuch as the changing of a type casting mold in a slug casting machine involves a manipulation of various securing devices, it is apparent that a substantial amount of time is consumed in making such changes and likewise that a complete range of molds must be originally provided and these molds must be kept at all times in. good condition and ready to be substituted one for the other.

It has been suggested that, by the provision of auxiliary elements, the capacity of the ordinary line casting mold to produce slugs having different letter sizes might be increased, but for one reason or another such suggestions have not been adopted and it is still the practice in-the printing industry to substitute one mold for another, in a line casting machine, in the production of slugs of different sizes. The general purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved type of line casting mold for use in a line or slug casting machine by means of which the operator is enabled, without removal of the mold from the machine, to modify the mold in such manner that it may be used tov cast slugs of various sizes, the mold being so designed and constructed that by the removal of but a single easily detachable part, and the substitution therefor of another substantially similar part, 7

slugs having letter sizes which differ widely may be cast.

Each slug embodies a base and a head portion, the letters being formed upon the head portion. Naturally for letters of larger size the head portion of a slug, upon which these letters are cast, must be larger than the head portion of a slug upon which smaller letters are formed. It is not necessary L0 change in any manner the bases of the slugs, which may be identical throughout the series, and hence the invention is particularly concerned with the provision of means, in associationwith the conventional features of a slug casting mold, which permits slugs of different head sizes to be cast. To this end the invention contemplates the provision, in combination with a type casting mold, of a series of head molds of different sizes, all of which may be readily applied to the body of the mold, the head molds preferably comprising frames which are provided with identical means for securing them to the stationary portion of the mold so that, after the removal of one, another can be rapidly and easily attached in its place. While various types of securing means may be employed, I prefer to provide each slide with either a dovetailed rib or with a dovetailed groove, and the mold with a dovetailed groove or a dovetailed rib, in order that the several frames or head molds may be placed in operative position, or removed therefrom, by a simple sliding movement relatively to the larger portion of the mold and, when placed in operative position, will be securely held in such position.

' The variousframes or head molds which are provided, which may be designated slides, are of light weight and small sizes, can be conveniently stored away when not in use, and are comparatively inexpensive so that as a result the saving in equipment cost and labor cost is material when the present invention is made use of, and the rapidity with which the desired alterations for the casting of slugs of different sizes may be made, greatly increased.

' By way of example one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingd'rawv Figure 3 is a section. online. 3--3 of Figure 1,

a matrix, not shown in Figure 1, being also illustrated;

Figures 4 and 5 are views similar to Figure 3 but showing head molds for casting slugs having larger heads than that shown in Figure 3;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 show in perspective slugs of the type which may be produced when the head molds shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 are made use of;

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the slug shown in Figure 7; and

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show, respectively, head molds of three different sizes, these molds being shown in perspective.

In its major features, the slug casting mold shown in Figures 1 and 2 is similar to molds which have long been known and used and it is unnecessary to describe its details in particularity. It may be said that the mold body comprises the usual cap I0 and base H and that it is adapted to be suitably secured upon the wheel of a slug casting machine of known type, such as the Linotype machine. Intermediate the cap ill and base II is the elongated slot [2 into which molten metal is introduced when a slug is to be cast, this slot being horizontally disposed, and extending longitudinally from one of the members E3 to the other, these members defining the ends of the slot and being located intermediate the mutually facing surfaces of the cap and base. Head molds are indicated at M, Ma and Mb in Figures 3, 4 and 5, and in Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings. Matrices are indicated at 15, |5a and l5b in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the matrices being shown in the positions which they normally occupy during a slug casting operation, the matrix l5 having a horizontal groove 16 formed in that surface thereof which lies against the flat outer face of head mold I4, the vertical wall of which groove is provided with letters and lies opposite the slot [2. Matrix I5a is provided with a similar groove I! and matrix 51) with a groove 18, the several grooves in the matrices being the same in depth, measured horizontally, but varying in height, measured vertically, and the bottom, or vertical wall of each groove being lettered in the usual manner.

Each of the head molds M, Ma and Mb illustrated includes two spaced parallel undercut ribs, which ribs are indicated at M and I 4 in the case of the head mold l4, Ma and la in the case of head mold Ma and at Mb and Nb in the case of head mold Mb, the undercut ribs being identical in cross section, and being identically positioned relatively to each other, throughout the entire series of head molds, of which series the three head molds illustrated are shown by way of example. The cap 10 of the mold body is provided with an elongated, horizontally extending, undercut groove 20, which is of such shape and size as to receive with a free, but fairly close sliding fit, the several undercut ribs [4, Ma. and Mb of the various head molds, and the base II is provided with an undercut slot 2| for the reception of either the undercut rib I 4 of head bolt M, or of the corresponding rib of any of the other head molds of the series. Slots 2D and 2| are open at their left hand ends (Figure 1) but a stop 22 is secured within the slot 20 at the right hand end thereof. To remove a head mold from the body of the mold, therefore, this mold must be moved to the left (Figure 1), until its undercut ribs are disengaged from the undercut slots of the cap and base of the mold. Thereafter another head mold may be operatively positioned, by first engaging its undercut ribs in the undercut slots 20 and 2| of the body of the mold and then sliding the head mold to the right (Figure 1) until its end engages the stop 22, at which point its central aperture is in register with the slot I2.

The several head molds of the series are provided with metal receiving slots which are substantially coextensive in length with the slot l2 of the body of the mold, and the heights of which vary in accordance with the size of the head of the slug to be produced, these several metal receiving slots being indicated at S, S and S in Figures 10, 11 and 12. In each case the height of the slot formed in a head mold is identical with the groove formed in the associated matrix and, where the groove of the matrix is wide, measured vertically, the slot formed in the head mold is correspondingly wide, as may be readily seen. Thus the metal receiving slot S of the head mold I4b is quite wide as compared with the corresponding slot in the head mold l4 and as a result the slug produced is L-shaped, as shown in Figure 8, its head portion 23 projecting upwardly from the base portion 24 for a substantial distance, thus providing a slug of the overhanging type and having space thereon for relatively large letters such as indicated at 25 in Figure 8. The head of the slug shown in Figure 7 is considerably smaller, while the head of the slug shown in Figure 6 is no wider than its base.

The precise cross-sectional shape of the several head molds of the series may be varied somewhat without departure from the invention. In every instance, however, it will be provided with a metal receiving slot which is at least as wide (or high) as the lettered surface of the matrix with which it is to be used, which slot will also be in register with the slot 12 of the body of the mold, when the head mold is in operative position. Naturally, to prevent the escape of metal, each head mold must be so formed that its exterior surfaces, above and below the slot, formed therein, shall fit snugly against the contiguous surfaces of the matrices with which it is used, and likewise, for the same reason, the mutually facing surfaces of the head molds and the main mold body are in close sliding contact.

It will be perceived from an inspection of Figure 9 that the base 24 of the slug shown tapers from the head toward its rear edge, the taper being shown to an exaggerated degree for the purpose of clarity in illustration. As also shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 the upper surface of the base portion of each slug is provided with ribs 24', disposed normally to the head portion 20 thereof. The uppermost surfaces of these ribs are parallel to the undersurface of the base of each of the slugs. The base of each of the slugs is so formed to facilitate its ejection from the mold after formation, while at the same time not sacrificing the advantage of having parallel upper and lower base surfaces by means of which it may be retained between the parallel faces of securing members when it is to be used in printing. In order to bring about the formation of ribs upon the bases of the slugs, the slot' 12 of the mold body is rearwardly tapered to a slight extent, in vertical section, and the upper surface of the slot, i. e., the lower surface of the cap member I 0 is grooved, as indicated in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the grooves being indicated at Ill. Any desired number of grooves may be provided but grooves spaced substantially as are those shown in the drawings will provide ribs in sufiicient number upon the resulting slug. Naturally, by tapering the major portion of the base of the slug its resistance to displacement after formation is greatly reduced.

As has been previously set forth, there may be used in conjunction with any one mold body, any number of sets of head molds, providing that there are corresponding sets of matrices to be used in association with the head molds, one set of matrices for each mold.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mold for slug casing machines, a mold body having a slot therein for the reception of molten metal, and a unitary head mold for a slug closely fitting against said body and having a slot formed therein which communicates with the slot in the mold body, said head mold having surfaces bordering the slot therein which are adapted to closely contact with a series of conventional type-faced matrices which are positioned for casting, adjacent faces of the mold body and head mold having interlocking means designed to permit ready separation of the head mold from said mold body.

2. In a mold for slug casting machines, a mold body having a slot therein for the reception of molten metal, and a unitary head mold for a slug closely fitting against said body and having a slot formed therein which communicates with the slot in the mold body, said head mold having surfaces bordering the slot therein which are adapted to closely contact with a series of conventional type-faced matrices which are positioned for casting, said head mold having an undercut rib and the mold body having an undercut groove within which said rib is received, the headmold being removable from the mold body by a sliding movement to disengage the rib from the groove.

3. In apparatus of the type described, the combination with a mold body having a cap and a base spaced to provide a metal receiving slot, the front of the cap being relieved above the slot wall, of a plurality of unitary head molds having slots of different widths adapted to be brought into communication with the slot in the mold body, all of said head molds havings identical attachment means, and the mold cap having means in said relieved portion to interlock with the attachment means of any one of said head molds.

4. In apparatus of the type described, the combination with a mold body having a slot for the reception of molten metal, and an undercut groove formed therein and disposed parallel to said slot, of a unitary head mold having a slot in communication with the slot in the mold' body and an undercut rib within the undercut groove in the mold body, the groove having an open end to permit detachment of the head mold by an endwise movement thereof.

5. A head mold for a slug casting machine comprising an elongated member having a rectangular slot extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to register with the metal feeding slot of a mold body, and spaced parallel longitudinally extending attachment elements on opposite sides of said slot and integral with said member whereby it may be secured to a mold body.

6. In combination, a series of head molds for a slug casting machine, each mold having a slot for the reception of molten metal, surfaces on each side of the head mold and bordering said slot adapted to contact respectively, with the surfaces of a mold body and the surfaces of a row of conventional type-faced matrices in type casting position, and means integral therewith for attaching the same to a mold body, the slots of the several head molds of the series having different widths.

'7. A mold for slug casting machines comprising a mold body having a base and a cap spaced apart to provide a metal receiving slot, the front face of the cap being set back of the front face of the base except for a narrow rib forming the forward continuation of the slot wall, a head mold having a slot adapted to be brought into communication with the slot in the mold body, said head mold having a portion closely fitting the front face of the base and a portion closely fitting the front face of the cap, and the portion thereof fitting the front face of the cap forming a back for that portion of the slot overhanging said set back.

8. A mold for slug casting machines comprising a mold body having a base and a cap spaced apart to provide a metal receiving slot, the front face of the cap being set back of the front face of the base except for a narrow rib forming the forward continuation of the slot wall, a head mold having a slot adapted to be brought into communication with the slot in the mold body, said. head mold having a portion closely fitting the front face of the base and a portion closely fitting the front face of the cap, the portion thereof fitting the front face of the cap forming a back for that portion of the slot overhanging said set r back, an undercut groove in the front face of the base and a parallel undercut groove in the front face of the cap, and correspondingly shaped splines on the said head mold adapted to enter said grooves, whereby the head mold is detachably secured to the mold body. FEED L. ARNOLD. 

